On Few Wheels is a blog about life in the city (Vancouver, Canada) while conciously making use of a variety of transportation options, none of which include owning a car. Walking, public/shared transit, car share, and -- most fun of all -- cycling. In heels.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

"It" is the construction of a separated bike lane on Dunsmuir St. While the street itself is 1-way (heading west), the lane will be 2-way. Although I don't typically ride east-west along this route, I do ride west-east to the library and dance studio via the non-separated bike lane one block over. This means that soon I will be riding against traffic with a curb between us.

Interesting! I'm excited to both watch how it works out (as its quite close to my workpace, so I'm often a pedestrian here as well) and try it out myself.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

This blog has been basically photo-less so far, much to my shame because I love photography as a hobby and also love reading other blogs that prominently feature photos as part of their content. To be honest, I'm a a shy person. Taking photos of anything other than the most public (i.e. scenery) or generic (i.e. unowned, inanimate) subjects is a bit daunting. Nevertheless, I'm not one to shy (ha!) away from a challenge to tackle my own limitations, so I've been working on pushing my comfort zone and aiming that camera here, there, and everywhere: my shoes (help, I feel silly!), stranger's bikes (help, I feel awkward!), and other people (help, I feel like a stalker!). Luckily, my brain has (mostly) prevailed over my inner wimp and now I'm starting to have something to show for it.

I shoot with a Canon G10, the most manual model of their compact cameras before you hit the SLRs. Because it's better with wide-angle than telephoto, it's taking me a while to work out how to photograph moving objects without sticking the camera right in their faces. (Paparazzi!) This is one of my best so far.

Bikes themselves are the easiest for me to snap. Besides this one being a "Pugh" (not one I've heard of before, possibly a British brand), it looks so simple and practical. Step-through, upright, chain guard, and no slouch of a rear basket.

These are my favourite shoes to cycle in.

Okay, I confess ... they're actually my favourite shoes altogether and I'm wearing them into the ground. That's what makes me love this discovery of the 'cycle chic' movement so much: I can go twice as far wearing these shoes on my bike than I can walking in them. Stylish and practical. Does it get any better than that?

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Vancouver's seawall, especially the part around Stanley Park, is famous, and deservedly. So while it's stunningly beautiful, it's also prone to being frustratingly busy whenever the weather is nice.

Unless, of course, you know when to go.

Weeknights evenings are the key. Overcast ones are best for lack of crowds, but for obvious reasons what's even better are sunny weeknight evenings immediately following overcast days, when everyone has already made plans to do other, more indoor activities that day and you are left with both the scenery and the bike path to your lonesome.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

There is no new bike for me in the near future. The decision process, the available feature sets, the available colours (ugh, the colours), my seemingly constantly changing wants, and the limitations that I'm currently placed under with regards to storing bikes have all conspired to halt this process. There's nothing wrong with my current bike, you see. It's just a tad inconvenient and not very charming. I've only had it one year and I'm the kind of person who has trouble trading in things quite so "quickly". (You should see my closet.)

So the ugly bike is getting new handlebars (something more swept-back) and perhaps a new seat (shall I splurge on a Brooks?) and grips. Stickers? A wicker basket? How does one personalise your typical city hybrid into something with at least a few drops of class?

Either the 'right' bike will make itself known at a later date, or I'll try again in another few months.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

This had to come to my attention across a continent and an ocean (via Copenhagen Cycle Chic), despite the fact that I'm an admirer of Canadian songstress Meaghan Smith. Heartbroken, A Little Love, If You Asked Me... considering how many of her songs I love, it's surprising that I don't have her CD yet. But here's one I hadn't heard (a cover, I'm told, and on the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack), with a sweet and summery cycle chic video to go along with it.

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Riding through downtown on Wednesday morning on the way to work, I saw two guys (young-ish, 20s-30s) in full suits (jacket and dress shoes included) on bikes. (Saw them separately, that is, not together.) One was on a red vintage bike, complete with chainguard, and the other on a folding bike with electric assist. Maybe he comes a long way and doesn't want to get his suit sweaty when riding over a bridge?

On Few Wheels is about life in the city (Vancouver, Canada) while conciously making use of a variety of transportation options, none of which include owning a car. Walking, public/shared transit, car share, and -- most fun of all -- cycling. In heels.